Mail-distributing apparatus.



.7 A. W. BARRY.

MAIL DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS. I APPLICATION I'ILED JUNE 11,1900.

91 9,809 Patented. Apr. 27, 1909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

will uenl'o'z,

W. BARRY. MAIL DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11,1900. 1 91 9,809. Patented Apr. 27, 71909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

, 1W. BARRY.

- aw MAIL DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE11,1900.

919,809 v Ptnted Apr. 27, 1909.

fiSHEE-"i'S-SHBET 3.

I I I v l W. BARRY. MAIL DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS. APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 11, 1900.

Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

w. BARRY.

MAIL DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATIONJILBD JUNE 11,19,00.

Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

ass

W. BARRY.

MAIL DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS. APII-IdATION FILED JUNE 11,1900.

919,809 v Patented Apr.27, 1909.

a n uentoz \bill wun aarrs Qfvihwoseo i k W. BARRY.

MAIL DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 11,1900.

Patented Apr. 27, 1909; I

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

w. BARRY. MAIL DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS. M I Y APPLIOATION FILED mm: 11,1900. 7 V 91 9,809, Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

B SHEETS-SHEET 8.

a 7 I O, 2 7. v 4 7 G7 I 3 I '33.

(3 w] c fiuuefifoz Wmmm la n 4 unrnn srATE Y PATENT FMCE WILLIAM BARRY, or oswnc nnw Year.

I MAIL-DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

. y Too/ll whom it may concern." 7

Be it knownthat I, WILLIAM BARRY, a citiz'en of the United States, residing at Osweg o,

. county of Oswego, State oi-New York, have Specification of Letters 1 atent. Application filed June 11,

invented certain new-and usefu'lj Improve merits in M ail-Distributing Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,

10 which it appert ains to make and use the same This invention relates to certain improvemerits in mail distributing appanatus; and

such as will enable others skilled in the art to the objects and nature of the invention will be olearly'understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanations of the accompanying drawings, which merely show an example from among various constructions within the splrit and scope of my invention, for the purpose -of'explaining the g away. Fig. 2, is a top plan view-of the apparatus, certain parts 1 v the top of the machine being'shown broken i eing shown in the positionsthey assume in action, one of the ranch way conveyers being shown receding I from the main letter conveyer, having just receiveda letter therefrom, certain parts bein" ca? section through the'apparatus on the line 40 key and one finger bar being shown deressed, theletterstrippers or gates atthe eft hand side of the view being raised,the main letter conveyer or lift being. shown Fig. 4, is a horizontal cross section taken in 3-3, Fig. 2, looking toward theright; one.

shownin dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a vertithe plane of the line 4- 4, Fig. 3, looking up. Fig. 5, is ahorizontal crosssectiontaken in 1 the plane of the line 5.5, Fig.1 looking down,

certain parts being broken away, the parts being shown however inthe positions they as sume immediately on the depression of a key,

- the clutch or dog having justv been released trolling trip lever notyet having been reto catch .theiratehet wheel, and the dog eonmain letter conveyer,

intermediate part in the length of said case tacles. locked or stopped at the first branch letter passage over the first row or tier of-bo xes.-

branch letter passages. I

ample shown, there arefive. tiers or rows of Patented April 27,1909. 1 not. Serial 1%. 19,895;

. leasedto assume its normal, osition in the I path of the heel of the dog, ig. 6, i's;a detail vertical section through the top part of the frame and. the top drivingcon'nections 61) for the main-"letter conveyer, certain parts being broken away, Fig. 7, is a detail central vertical section through the drivingand make and break mechanisms, takeninthc plane of the line 77, Fig. 5. Fig. 8, isa de- 65 tail side elevation of themain letter conveyer and its earriage, the letter pusher being shown in the position it assumes when the convyer is moving upwardly, the conveyer being shown in its normal. osition with respect to the feed rolls in icated generally with theirshafts shown in section, dotted lines show theposition of the pushers before the "conveyor; starts on'its upward movement. Fig. 9, is a detail pers ective view ofthe main lettercohveyer an its carriage and parts carried thereby and removed from the uide rods, the parts thereof-being shown in he same relative positions as shown in Fig. '8. Fig. 10, i'sa detail enlargedsect'ion'al plan View of the ,fe'ed'rolls, main letter conveyer and a branch letter conveyer, the

branch letter conveyer shown in the act :of entering and removing a letter from the parts of the apparatus being broken away. Wig. 11, is a detail we spective viewof pne of the branch letter conveyers. Fi 12, is adetail enlarged verti cal-section hrough part of the box case, an

beingbroken' away, thes'ectlonbeing taken in the same plane as thatof Fig. 3, parts of vtheapparat'tl's being broken away. 7 1a the s cific construction illustrated, shown mere y as an exampleto enable those skilled in. the art to. understand the various broad features ofmy invention through the medium of the following explanation, I employ, a circular case of boxes or letter recep-' .100 The case is mounted in or carried by a su'i't able rigid framecomprising the lower legs or supports-1. The. letter boxes of said case carried by said'l'egs 1-, are arranged in circular rows or tiers; with intervening spaces or In the specific exboxes, each tier arranged ina horizontal planethe several tiers arranged one above the otherso that, in client, alar ge 'cylin- 11C dricalicas'e of hoXes is formed. The boxes in each row are arranged radially with open letthe upper ends of the legs 1. a It will thus be. 1 .observed that the rows of boxes are properlyspaced, andsupported by the vertlcal supports 3, and that the entire case is carriedby the legs 1. Each circle or row-,of boxes,

. referably, consists of the curved fiat-basefl,

Forming the floors of all thetboxes, and the inner vertical ring 2,. forming, the inner closed ends of all of the boxes. The boxes or letter receptacles ate often formed on said base and nngby radial partitions.

V4, is a 'rigid horizontally disposed spiderframe arranged above the case of boxes and rigidly secured to the upper, ends of the vertical supportingrods 3, to which the res "ective rows of boxes are secured. If desira le,

the rows of boxes, excepting the bottom row,

can be adjustably secured to the severalpare allel rigid vertical supports 3, so that the respectiverow's of boxes can be vertically adjusted to roperly spacethem A branc letter way orpassage is arranged I horizontally above the open'tops of the boxes of each row. Each branch passage is belowthe base plate '2, of the row of boxes above, excepting the to most branch passage is below the top rigi spider frame '4. -I have indicated the various branch passages, by 5, 6, 40 '7, 8, 9, from the bottom branch passage upwardly. It will be observed that the large vertical cylindrical case of boxes has the vertical central opening or well extending therethrough. The box case, shown, is in the form of a hollow vertical cylinder, the wall of which is as thick as the length of any letter box or'compartment.

Eaeh row of boxes does/not form a complete circle, but at the front of the apparatus,

the end boxes of each row are separated a suitable distance, to form the' vertical main letter wayor assage extending throughout the length of t e box case and crossing all of the box rows and all of the branch passages above the same. The base plates 2, of the box rows do not extend across said vertical main letter passage, although the base plate 2, of the bottom rowof boxes forms a comw lete circle or ring and extends across the fibwer end of said main passage and forms a f siapporting part of the main frame-work of I theapparatus. The upright back rings 2, of

, theboxes are each formed continuous and form an inner or-back wall for said mam passage, the proper spaces beingprovided be-.

faced up mail matter.

v the vertical end edges of the wall 11.

tween the edges of said back rings'for the branch passages and movement of the various branch assa eletter conveyers over the open tops ,0 the oxes.

The boxes of the various rows are arranged one above the other in vertical lines, as the curved rows of boxes are all of the same diameter and concentric, and as the'boxes are all shown as similar in construction I have not applied reference characters thereto, ex-

"cept that the first boxes (those nearest the path of the main letter conveyor) of each orizontal row,'are indicated by A, and the last boxes of each horizontal row by B. The A, boxes form a vertical row on one side of the main letter passage, and the B, boxes 'form a vertical row on the opposite side of the said passage.

' At one-side of the lower portion of said main letter way or passage, I provide a suitable support for the initial or common ile of In the sJeci 10 example shown, 10, is a horizonta table or letter support on which a pile or bundle of letters isplaced with theirladdressed faces upwardly. I Theletters are arranged flatly 1 or horizontally on said table andon eae other'with their inner longitudinal edges alined andpressed against the vertical wall The inner corners of said table can be provided with any suitable guides slidin on uitable mechanism is provided to move said table vertically. I v

.Inthe drawings, I'shoW a vertically disposed rod or leg 12, extending downwardly from and secured to the table 10, and at its lower end ivotally joined to a verticall movable hull or lever 13, at its rear end in crumed to the main frame of the machine. 106 14, is a weight actim on and connected to said lever 13, to yiel dingly draw the same upwardly and hence constantly press upwardly on the table 10, carrying the pile of letters. This leg or rod 12, is shown formed 110 with a longitudinal "series of upwardly inclined rat'chet teeth, and a pawl and ratchet mechanism is provided toprevent upward movement of t e table 10, under the action of its heavy impelling weight 14, except as such movement is permitted by said pawl and ratchet.

17, is a double pointed or escapement pawl mounted between its ends to a suitable support from the lower frame work of the apparatus. This awl has a rearwardly extending rigid cran arm to which a link is pivotally joined, the opposite end of the link being pivotally joined to a'treadle or foot lever 15, suitably mounted at the base of the machine to rock vertically. The pawlis so arranged that one of its toothed ends is normally in mesh with the ratchet teeth of the rod 12, and holding the table 10, against 11 ward movement. The pawl islusually heFd 5 lever in the opposite direction. When the o crater desires to permit upwar'dmovement of the bundle of letters onthe table- 10, he releases his foot from the lever 15, and thereupon the escap'ement pawl will rock vertically and allow the rod 12, to move up a tooth or two before-the lower toothed end of the pawl engages and locks the ratchet teeth:

ofsaid rodv or bar'12. It will thus be observedtnat the table 10,.can be allowed upward movement by rocking said escapement pawl backand forth which allows the upward movement, toothby tooth, as the ,let ters are removed from the to of the pileon the table. If so preferred, tfie normal position of the foot le'ver or treadle 15, can be in its position when held up by the spring 16, so that the rocking of the pawi17, is effected ressing down by a depression and release of'said lever '15,

by the foot of the operator. 'However,. my invention is not limited in this respect to any particular mechanism controlling the nipward movementof the table 10, carrying t e common pile of letters, and I merely describe the specificconstruction shown as an exinily hold the pile of letters in place on the ample of what might be employed. I Suitable mechanism is provided to yield?- le 10, and yet permit the ready with-;

letters on the ta'ble 10 Ishow a vertically disposed swinging frame-18,fulcrumedat its 40 lower end to a' suitable rigid part of the i drawal of the top most letter of the pile 35 frame work so that the upper end of the, frame can swing toward and from the-pile of letters onthe table-10. I- show the upper cross bar of this frame piovidedwith theuptend up at the front edges .of the letters on wardly projecting fingers 1%), arranged to ex' the table and lap over the'top most letter'to a slight-extent to hold the same down. a

20, is a coiled retractive sprin secured to the frame 18, and yieldingly siding-thesame and the fingers 19, against the front] edges of the letters on the table 10, and yieldingly holding said letters to the rear vertical properly aline the letters and hold 1 wall 1 1, to them in'place.

provided to successively remove the top most letter from the lift. I'do'not, wish to articular construction of initial feeder,- but or the sake of convenience, I show a pneu-" tubular shaft21, to rock and swing the upper end thereof forwardly and horizontal y over the top most letter of the pile and then sisting of the vertical hollow or tubular shaft I Inatic or suction device for this purposeconthe machine and having-the laterally bent horizontal upper end arranged to extend over the pile 0 letters on the table 10. This horizontal upper end of the'rocking or-osoillating vertic tubular shaft 21 is provided with the suction cups 22. These cups are secured on the under portion of,the horizontal end of said shaft and depend there from so that their lower open ends canengage the top most letter of the .pile onthe table 10.

Any suitable air suction or exhausting mechanism canbe connected with the tube 21, and as such forms no part of my inv'ention I do not show the same, but merely showthe lower-end of said tube broken away. Usually the suction device such, as

,an exhaustfan, is constantly acting through.

the tube 21, on the usually flexible suction mm'iths 22. As hereinafter described, suit able mechanism is provided to cause said drop down thereon and draw saidrletter 11 against the suction mouths 22, and then li t and swing 'rearwardly' and laterally to the rotating coacting feed rolls 24. The tubular feeder shaft extends vertically beside one end .of the letter supporting-table 10, and the passes vert1cally throu h a horizontal forwardly extending arm 0 said spiderframe 23, and said arm is fornied with a segmental track- 25, having a curved vor cam shaped portion 25, atone end. The feeder shaft 21, is provided with a rigid horizontal arm 26, over said segme'ntalor circular track 25,

andzsaid arm has a vertically disposed roller track. The arrangement is such that. when said arm is swung forward to its limit of stroke insthat direction it, will .be at the lower front end of the curved or carnportion 25", of the track, and the upper feeding end "of the shaft 2i,- wil'l be located down on' the 1 top most letter of the pile. In this position Any suitable initial feeding mechanism is carried by its free end and moving on said I the top most letter of the pile has been I or curvedtrack 25, and thereby evate's the v v r 1 shaft and elevates the upper lettenfeedin limit my invention to any rearward-1y over the upper'end of the wall I 1 and into the feed rolls-24., The curved ortion 25, of thetrack 25, is sufficiently igh to carry the letter over the upper edge of the wall 11, and the remainder of the length of 5 the track is flat or horizontal to carry the letter in a horizontal plane into the rol s 24.

, When said feeder shaft 21, moves in the op-- down the inclined portion 25', of said track to lower the-suction cups or mouths 22, onto thetop most letter of the pile.

The two feed rolls 24, 24, are arranged on 1 axes which extend radially of the cylindrical box case, The bite between these two rolls is in approximately the same horizontal plane as that in which the letter moves into 20 the rolls. The two rolls are mounted on shafts 24, 24. The lower shaft is mounted in suitably arranged fixed bearings carried by a rigid part of the frame work, and the shaft of the upper roll issuitably mounted so as to yield vertically as the rolls receive letters of various thic esses. The lower roll shaft 24', .is provided with a pulley 24 driven by some suitable mechanism, as hereinafter set forth. The two co-acting feed rolls are circumferentially slotted or divided as shown more clearly in Figs. 2, and 3, to 'receivethe jaws -of the main letter conveyer or lift as hereinafter set forth, and said two rolls are heldyieldingly together by a suitable spring mechanism 24 as shown. The upperroll is preferably driven by friction, that is .the upper roll ,is an idler while the lower roll is positively driven, although of .course if desired, the two rolls. can be both positively driven. In the construction illustrated, the main letter conveyer or liftreciprocates practically throughout the length. of the vertical main letter way or assage and thus inter- -branch'letter ways. r

' Themain letter conveyer or lift, as shown, consists of a carrier provided witha letter holder or clamp. The carrier consists of aver tically disposed sliding sleeve 28, having a rigid arm 28*, projecting laterally therefrom and provided with a vertical guide, ring or tube 28, as the case may be. The sleeve or slide 28 and the ring 28, are confined to slide verviii eerily on two vertical rigid rods or guides 27, i'a n d 2 7. I These two parallel rigid rods 27,

and 27 extend throughout the length'of the main letter jway and at their lower ends are I shown secup'ed to the base ring or support of the bottom, row of boxes, and a't their upper ends are se/eured rigidly to the upwardly defiected p0 .tion of the arm or bracket 4, connectin'g t 0 .of the arms of the rigid top spider t'rame .4, above the case of boxes.

The letterclamp orholder of the main let-' sects the planes ,of t e respective horizontal ter conveyer is arranged in front of and a dis:

tan'ce from the slidin sleeve 28, so that the letter passing from t e feed rolls into said clamp of the main letter conveyer will not engage the sleeve 28, ofsaid conveyer. The letter clam is carried by a rod or su port 29, extending horizontally and forwar' ly from,

and rigid with the sleeve 28.

[30, 3O, are two parallel se arated horizontaljaw's rigidly secured to t 1e sup )ort or rod 29. These jaws are made. of lig t material and are in length greater than the 'width. of any letter which is delivered there- 'to from the feed rolls. The rigid lower jaws 30, are o posed by the correspondingly formed an arranged movable spring held jaws 31'. The u per jaws 31, are secured together by a cross bar 31, arranged centrally of the lengths of said jaws; 32;.is a spring secured at its rear end to the rigid arm 28 and at its front end to said cross bar 31, and yieldingly holding the movable jaws 31, down to the rigid jaws 30, so as to permit vertical yielding of the movable jaws 31, to accommodate letters of various thicknesses and sizes. This spring in connection with 'its point of attachment to the yielding jaws is so arranged as to permit said jaws to rock vertically to accommodate small or narrow letters and also bulky letters of different thicknesses at different points. It will thus beobserved that the clamp, as shown, consists of two pairsof opposing jaws, with the jaws of each pair arranged in the same vertical plane one above the other. I show the jaws engaging only at their ends, their intermediate portions being concaved or reduced for the purpose of gripping the.thin edges of the letters or supporting said. edges to prevent bending or crumpling thereof, and so as to accommodate the intermediatev thick portions of bulky letters.

The. bites between the horizontall arranged pairs of jaws composing the otter clamp of the main letter conveyer are, when the letter conveyer is in its normal position, arranged behind and in zip roximately the same horizontal lane with t e bite between the two feed ro s 24, 24. The said letter clamp is arranged onLthe opposite side of the feed rolls 24, from the initial feeding device so that the lette'r placed in the feed rollsby the initial feeding device is carried between said rolls and moved horizontally into the letter clamp 'of the main letter conveyer.

The inner ends of'the jaws 30, 31, arefiared or'beveled to guide the advancing edge of the letter as it leaves thefeed rolls, roperly intoand between said jaws. Also t e front ends of the letter clamp of the main letter conveyer are so arranged with respect to saidfeed rolls as to lap the same, as more clearly shown in Fig. 8. To ermit this, the feed rolls are cireumferentia ly grooved or recessed so that the front end of the letter mason vzlimp will approach-closely to the bite be I i tween theF'feed rolls; Hence it Lie-obvious that mechanism must be provided'toimov'e the letter reanwardly intethe-letter clamp {after-zit has leffthe feed rolls sojthat when the a main letter iconveyer stantskon its up-- bite between the rapidly driven feed rolls 24,

rigid stop 38.

ward movcment the edge of theletter is ,free to pass the rear portion of the. periphery of j i the top feed will *Eorsthi'sgpurposg-l show s n r s e fii s rs 1 depending from arock' shaft 35, mounted i-na frame or support 33, "a distance above the, letter clamp of the lift and extending laterally I from and rigid wan-me upper, ortionof'the. sleeve 28. The lower-ends of t ese swinging pusher fingers 34, lap the fronte'nds of the jaws of the letter-clamp. and are curved or otherwise formed to engage the rear'edge of the letter which has been forced-into the spring-clamp, and has advanced beyond the and push said letter into the clamp so that its edge is rearward ly beyond the vertical plane including the rearmostiportion ofthe periphery of said top roll. A

Suitable mechanisms are provided to op-. e'rate said pushbrfi ngers 3 4, at the roper --time with respect to the: advancing 'etter:

To this end-I show the rock shaft 35, pro-' vided with a rearwardly extending rigid crank arm 36, at an intermediate point, 36, pivotally joined to and crossing the vertical reciprocating-bar 39. The rear free end of the crank arm 36, extends beside the'sleeve 28, and is limited in its upward swing by a The main letter conveyer is raised and lowered through the medium of aflexible endless connection 40, passingaround, suitable idlerulleysand properly coupled to a driving pu ley as hereinafter set forth. The main letter conveyeris secured in this endless flexible connection 40, at the points .45, 45, located at the lower end ofthe rod 39', as

5 seen moreclearlyin Figs. 8 and 9. "When the main letter conveyer is in its normal position with the jaws opposite and im'mdif ately behind the two feed rolls, the said con- .veyer is locked against upward movement 0 by the downwardlyprojecting spring finger 42, secured to the lower portlon of the sleeve. 28, and provided with the shouldered portion terminating inthe downwardly and outwardly curved end. This spring'finger 5 catches under a collar or stop 43,- secured' on the lower portionof the guide rod on which. the sleeve 28, slides, When the said sleeve moves downwardly the finer 42, slips past the collar-43, and the shou der of the finger 42, catches under the collar'43, and thus holds the-main letter conveyer a'gainst u '4 ward movement until the tension of ti ie spring 42, is overcome, and said spring slips from the collar 43. w

6t lYhon the main letter conveyer is in its -When in its lowest position; main letter conveyer 1s1nits normal pos1- normal 4 position, as just described, with f-thb finger 42, caught on the collar 43,:1she

pusher fingers 34, 'arein'their normal ,posi

tlons swung outwardly "w itlntheir iewer "ends raised above and out off the path traveled by .theletters passingtf-om the rolls-24 mm the letter .elamp,'see Fig. 1, and dotted ilines Fig. 8. W-hen the said pusher fingers '34, are the normal'positions the crank arm '36, is-at its limit of downward movement resting on the fra le-33, and said crank arm 36, is yieldinglyheld in its said downward 7 position by aspr ng finger 37', :at its upper end'securedzto the upper portion of the sleeve :28, .andprojectlng downwardly bee-. side-said sleeve and arranged to engage the 'freeend of the crank arm 36. The lower Said fing Beveled as, shown, and the beveled ortion terminates 'in an upwardly facing s oulder} 3T. -The'ba1' 39, secured in the flexible con motion 40, has a vertical longitudinal play independent of the sleeve28, and the main letter conveyor, equal to the distance between the stop 38, and the-portion of'the frame 33, engaged by the crank arm 36, 7

Thus when the tion at its limit of downward movement the rod 39, is also at its limit of downward movement with the crank arm 36, resting on the frame 33.

f When the. letter has been moved into the clamp of. the main letter conveyer'by the feed rolls 24, and the proper mechanism has been set at work, tension is exerted upwardly on therod 39,.througih the medium of'flexible connection 40, an as the spring 1 42, has greater power than the spring 37, said rod will move 11 wardly and carry the crank arm 36, upwardly against the tension of spring 37, thereby swinging said spring to one side and allowing the crank sun-36,

to move past the same and engage the rigid stop38. This movement of the crank arm throws or swin s the pusher 34, inwardly andmovesthe le ter inwardly into the clamp so thatgit can push upwardly Without engaging the top feed roll 24. When the crank arm 36-, engages the stop 38, the ull of the flexible Connection 40, is direct y on the in a-boX, the direction of' pull of the flexible connection 40, onthe main letter conveyor is reversed, and said conveyer is moved downwardly to its before mentioned normal position. Duringthis downward movement nection 40, is then directly-on the sleeve 28,v

and consequently the spring 42, is pressed to one side and allowed to slip over the collar 43. When the crank' arm 36,. is thus swung downwardly the'pusher fingers 34, are swung outwardly to assume their normal positions out of the letter path, as before described, so that the letter from the feed rolls is free to move into the clamp of the main conveyer.

.. "Suitable mechanisms are. provided to stop the main letter-conveyer opposite any one of. the branch letter passages. As a suitable means for this pur ose, I show a vertical rod or bar 44, exten ing upwar'dlybeside the carrier of the main letter conveyer and parallel with the bars on which said conveyer moves. This support or bar 44, is provided with a series of swinging stops or catches 5Z6, 7, and 8,-corresponding to the respective branch letter way passages 5, 6, 7, and 8.

:letter to the topmost No movable stop is necessary for the topmost branch letter assage as the main letter conveyer is limite at the upper end of its stroke so as to stop'in the path of the branch passage conveyer. of said topmost passage. f the. letter carried by the main letter conveyer is intended for the topmost row of passa es, saidconveyer moves upwardly past a of the other branch passages and the stopscorresponding thereto, and at its limit of upward movement the sleeve 28, abuts against the upwardly deflected portion of the top frame 4, and thus automatically stops the lift at the necessary point to deliver its ranch assage conveyer. Each stop or catch 5, 6 ,etc. is composed of the hook shaped swinging lever fulcrumed to the-bar 44, with its upper hookshaped or shouldered end arrange to swin into the path of a stop or projection, 44 from the side of the tube or sleeve 28. Each sto or catch is fu-Icrumed at its lower end an provided with the laterally extending crank arm to which a coiled retractive spring 45, is secured, constantly tending to hold the upper end of the catch out ofthe path of the gojection of the lift ormain letter conveyer.

ach catch or stop is provided with a setting or operating connection '46, tomove the catch against the tension of its spring 45, and throw its shouldered upper end outwardly and into the path of'the pin 44, rigid with the lift so as to stop the lift at the branch passage desired.

The various operating connections 46, extepd upwardly from their respective catches or'stops to a point above the case of boxes,

where they are attached to the inner ends of the verticall rocking levers 47,- each fulcrumed to a anger depending from the upwardly deflected portion of the su port 4. The levers extend outwardly beyon the case of boxes and each has its outer end pivotally joined to a pull connection 48. The various pull connections 48, extend vertically outside the. case of boxes and at their lower ends, at a point below the case of boxes, are respectively joined pivotally to the levers 49 here-- inafter more s )ecifically described. in the specificexamp e illustrated, there are four catches or'stops for the branch passages and consequently there'are four pul connections 48, and four levers 49. It will thus be observed that when one of the levers 49 is depressed, the branch passage stop or catch corresponding thereto is thrown into the path of the main letter conveyer, and that the main letter conveyer will be stopped in its upward movement at the proper point opposite or in the particular branch passage to which said sto corresponds. The operating mechanism or the mainletter conveyer is so timed that the sto is thrown into the path of said conveyer efore the conveyer starts on its upwmid movement.

setting devices, and when such devices are released the spring 45, of the particular stop set will return the parts to thelr normal positions' with the shouldered or catch end of the stop out of the path of the main letter conveyer. r

Suitable mechanisms are provided to remove the letter fronrthe 'main letter conveyer and deposit the same in any box of the particular row at which the main letter conveyer has stopped. As a convenient form for this purpose I show radial .arms rigid with a central vertical rocking or oscillating shaft 53. This shaft 53, is arranged vortically and centrally within the well or opening of the cylindrical case of boxes and extends above and below the same. The lower end of this shaft is mounted in the rigid horizontal frame 54, and the upper end of the shaft 5. mounted in the top spider frame and projects above the same. The lower portion of the shaft is also mounted in and passes through the'rigid horizontal frame 23, secured to the legs 1,-and located below the case of boxes.

Suitable driving mechanism, as hereinafter set forth, is applied to the lower part of the vertical shaft 53, usually between the supporting frames 23, and 54. The actuating mechanism for the main letter conveyer is applied at the upper end of the shaft 53, at a point usually a ove the spider frame 4.

55, are collars rigidly secured to the vertical shaft 53, opposite the branch letter passages, respectively. These collars can be adjustably secured on the shaft by set Mechanism is provided to lock the stop t hand side'of the figure 1.

' screws, if desired, to render the radial arms 56, carried thereby vertically adjustable. The radial arms 56 are rigidly secured to saidcollars and extend'horizontally therefrom into thebranch passage ways over the rows of letter boxes. These arms 56, can be formed of thinlight material'and attheir outer endscam'y suitable clamps or-convegei-s adapted to=re1nove the letters from t main letterconveyer and 'carrythe same over the open tops of the boxes. One horizontall swinging letter oonveyer is provided for can branch passage, so that in the present instance there will be five radial arms 56, each radial am being arranged to move over the open upper ends ofv the row ofboxcs .which it is adapted to serve with letters.

-Each radial arm 56, at its outer end carries 4 a spring clamp horizontally disposed and '20 extending forwardly from the arm, in the direction of movement of thearm when ,advancing to remove a letter from the'ma'in letter conveyer.

fingers rigidly secured to the-lower. endsof pins or studs 57, de ending from, and rigid with the arm 56; T e pair of separated par allel spring fingers59, are usually secured at their rear ends to saidstuds 57 The upper opposing, movable springfingers 58, are arranged above and parallel withthe lower, fingers 59,.so as toform in effect two pairs of I ing Jjaws, The gers or.jaws 58,- ,usua y have openings s ring clamping or gri ther'ethrough to loosely receive the studs 57,

and erim't vertical lnovement thereon, and

said aws or fingers 58, are secured together by a crossbar 58', arranged about at the cento ters of the lengths ofheses fingers 58.,

Said fingers 58,- are" yieldingly pressed to; ward the fingers-59, by a spring 60, at one end secured to the arm 56, and at itsfree end pressing downwardly on the cross bar 58, to

' yieldin ly'hold the fingers 58,"to the'fingers. 59, wit 'a' reater pressure or tension than.

that exert'e by, the spring ofthe main letter conveyor clamp. The sprin clamps as just described, carried by the ra' ial arm 56, are" made ofsuch a width as to pass between the pairs of jaws carriedby the main letter conf veyer and pull the'lettertherefrom by reason of the greatertension 'or strength of the i springs 60, than "that of-the spring holdingtoget When the operating mechanism is set in Each clamp'is arranged-trarisversely with respectto the-length of its arm' 25 56, and consists of apair of horizontal spring rocked in-a direction to move all of the radial arms 56, forwardly over the various rows oi boxes and beyond the front end boxes A, of

each-row, and into the main vertical letter assage'. .The main letter conveyer having een stopped o posite one of said passages motionlthe central shaft. '53, is turned or withvits letter 0 amp in the path ofjthe particular branch passage'c'onveyer, said branch conve'yer moves forwardly and j its forwardly nain letter conveyer .andgras the letter therem,-and the operating mec nism then reverses the directionlof rotation of the vertical shaft 53, and the branch letter assage iconveyer's all move V'rearwardly an again .projectingspring jaws enter the clamp of the pass over the boxes of their various rows, one of said hranch' conveyex" "carrying the letter which it removed from the'main letter conveyer err-lift, While the branch letter eoning strokes the'letter clamps thereof extend rearwardly, hut while s'ard'conveyers are making their forward or"initial strokes thev letter clanips extend forwardly from the resp'ective arms 56, so as to remove the letters from the main letter conveyer.

mechanism at, or adjacent to its upper end, and arranged, when properly ad'usted or actuated, to project into the pat ofa letter carried bya letter conveyer and strip the letter-from said conveyer and cause it to fall into the boxl To this end I show each'box provided with one'or more, usually two, vertically disposed fingers 61, The fingers of each box project, or are'arranged to project, from the far side partitions of each box, up-

wardly and vertically into the branohletter passages above the boxes. The fingers are preferably so arranged as to permit the veyeis are making their return letter carry- 7 V Each iette'r box isprovided with suitable Y branch passage conveyersgto' ass between them, and yet so as-to strike t e advancing edge of the letter carried by one of said con- 'veyers and thus strip the letter from the clamp ofthe conveyor and cause the same to drop ,intothebox. In this connection it should be noted, as hereinbefore described, that when the branch letter conveyers-are moving back from the main letter way, the letter clam s of said branch conveyer extend rearwar y, so that a set of fingers 61, can

easily stri the letter from a clan1p,'whi 1e the clamp-an letter are located over the particu- I larbox in which the letter is to be deposited.

'- The fingers or strippers 61', of the last or end letter boxes B, of thebox rows are perotter passages, for if a letter carried by a branch passage conveyer has'passed over allof' the other boxes of the row it must belong in the end box thereof and hence the .lnanentl or'normally arranged in theletter' path an projecting 1nto the'variousbranch strippers 61, will always remove a letter and drop it into the end box B, if said letterhas i hold them in such elevated position until awithin the box case.

- the rows of boxes.

tend throughout the length of the caseof 2 5 1 stri pers.

not been previously deposited in some. other box of the row; i

The gate, stripper or switch'fingers 61, erg all normally depressed or withdrawn from the various branch passage ways, and mech v anism is provided to project any vertical set of said'fingers into the branch passages and letter has been deposited .into one of the boxes. Ishow, the airs of'stripper fingers carried by cross hea s62, arranged radially Eachoross head is arranged beside and usually ina recess. inapartition of its box and carrying the two stri per fingers which roject upwardly. T e

ox, or some part t ereof, isforme "with a suitable vertical guide way for said cross head 62, and the projecting outer end of the cross head is secured to ave'rtical rod 63,, arranged at the exterior ofthe case of boxes and passing through suitable guides carried by or rigid with the several base plates-2, of i The vertical rods 63, ex

boxes and project above and below the same. There are as many vertical rods 63, as there are vertical rows of boxes minus the row of boxes B. These vertical rods 63, extend upwardly along or adjacent to the outer ver-' tit ajl edges .of the partitions between and "forming the boxes, and each rod has all of the cross heads 62, ofone vertical row of boxes secured thereto Thus in'the specific construction shown, each-vertical rod 63, .will have five cross heads 62, secured thereto and projecting inwardly and radially of the case of boxes therefromi These rods 62, reciprocate vertically to project the stripper fingers carriedlthereby upwardly and to return said stripper fingers to their normalde-. pressed positions. I

Suitable -mechanism-s are provided to independently operate the various vertical ro s 63, that is each lift rod 63, has its own elevating mechanism, so that said rods can 'be'se arately elevatedto elevate the letter switc es or strippers .carriedthereby. In the specific construction illustrated, there are nineteen vertical stripper operating lift rods163, as" there are twenty boxes in each row, the end boxes B, having permanent I show nineteen verticall swinging evers 64, loosely coupled to said 'ft rods,

. respectively, for operatlng the same, each rod having its own operating lever. These operatlng levers 64, are horizontally arranged beneath the case of boxes and above the rigid spider frame 23, and all radiate rear- Wardly and laterally from a oint in front of the case of boxes. The lift ars 63, are pivotally joined at their lower ends to the rear ends of said levers 64, which levers are ful-' crumed at points between their ends on horizontal pivots carried by the ban ers 65, from the horizontal plate 66, of pecu 'ar shape or formation and secured at the under side, of the bottom base late 2, of the box case.

The front ends of t e levers 64, all terminate in a horizontal line at a point in front of the box'case and have their ends bent upwardly and said fie s being preferably arranged ina horirovided with finger pieces or keys 64,

zontal ine'or plane in front of the lower front portion of the case and below the horizontal planeofthe letter support 10, and located outwardly beyond the vertical plane of said support, out fronrthe line of the keys to various points in the circle occupied by the lift rods 63, and

as said-levers vary in length, and yet allshould impart approximately the same.

length of stroke to the lift rods, it is necessary to arrange the fulcrum points 65, of said levers at various points along the plate 66, to locate the fulcrum oint of each lever at the proper point in its ength, whereby the rear ends of all thelevers will move vertically the same distance, a proximately. The horizonta ly disposed levers l9, connected, respectively, to operate the main letter 'conveyer stops, are shown arranged below said series of key. levers 64. Each lever 49, is usually arranged in the form ofa loo or U-shaped, and the separated front on s of the parallel side bars of each lever,

are rigidly connected by an elongated finger 'bar 50. The four levers 49, are of different lengths so that the four finger or cross bars 50, are arranged in different vertical planes and are arallel with each other. The front As said key levers 64, all branch ends of t e levers49, are turned up .to receive said finger bars, and said u turned ends are of different lengths so that t e finger bars are indifferent horizontal planes; The bank or steps of finger bars are arranged in front of an parallel with the row of keys 64', so that a bank or ste s of finger keys and bars is or are formed. he finger'bar levers 49, are all loosely fulcrumed to independently rock on .r

a horizontal cross bar 51, usually arranged just in advance of the central shaft 53, and hung .in or secured to hangers 52, rigid with said plates or support 66.

The letter moving operating members and connections of the apparatus are normally inactive and disconnected from the continuously moving driver;

68, is the COII'DIDI IOUSly' rotating driver comprising a horizo ntal balance wheel or pulley concentric with the central shaft 53, and arranged at the lower end thereof on a hub or boss carried by the bottom frame 54.

This driver has the ratchet wheel 69 secured thereto concentrically and rigid therewith and located at thelup or side thereof.

.The operating nemiier for the letter moving devices is n51 mally inactive and is operatively coupled with and disconnected from said continuously rotating ratchet wheel by a suitable make and break or clutch mechvo ro,s cie*' I 1 anism .Tlie who-a, senten e-y a near" or other'fpower througlrthe medium of any suitable power transmittingmechanism. In the s 'eclfic example'sl ow the operating sists of'an eccentric70, loosely mountedon the central shaft 53, above the continuously rotating ratchet wheel. This eccentric has a radial arm 71, xi 'd therewithbesideand ex? tending outward y beyond theiratchet whee1.- The clutch between the cam andcontinuously rotating driver 'c'omprisesya swinging dog 72, pivotally joinedfat a pointibetween its ends to said arm :71, so that its free hooked or shouldered end can'swing'into and out of locking en agement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 69. I

172, is a coiled spring constantly tending to draw the toothed freejend of the dog' into ,120 locking'engagement with the'ratchet wheel and thereby cause thei arm 71, and eccentric cam to rgotatejwith the ratchet wheel. The 1 o posits-end of the dog is'formed rigid with tEe radiaI heel or stop projection 72" A stop or trip lever 73, is provided with its rear free endvheld normally in the path of said heel 72", of the dog, and normally-abutting against said'heel and 'helding said dog withits free end swung away from the, ratchet wheel andagainst the tension of its spring 72'. Saidstopi or trip lever is horizontally arranged beneath the rigid frame 23, and at I 7 3 is fulcrumed on a stud depending. from said frame 23. This fulcrum point is about midway the len th .of' the lever and the lever extends forwar ytherefrom over the guide I '23, rigid with the front end of said frame 23. I 73", is a retractive spring a plied-to said lever 73, to hold its rear end 1n the path of 40 the dog. Mechanism is provided at i the front end of said'lever 73, to swing it laterally against the tension of itsspring 73", and

' move 1ts rear end laterally from engagement with the heel'of thedog and thereby permit the .dog to swing into locking engagement with theratohet wheel and eause rotation of.

' the arts as before described. In the ex- 1 amp e shown, this releasing or controlling mechanismfor the trip'consists of a vertical; so

lateral shoulders or projections64 ,from the upturned ends of key 'Iev'ers 64; The cross 1 bar 7 4- is carried-by the front ends of .a vertically swinging horizontally disposed bail or 1 frame 74", at its rear end mounted to swing'on he cross-bar51. The cross bar-74',i's located nder the shoulders '64", of all 'thekeylevers, e and the depression of any key lever on said bail: own and force down the vertica I 1 bar 7 4, The lower end portion of bar 74,"; has the'i'latral and upward incline, oam,-j J wedge face or edge 74*, normally arranged, or": at itsinner endterminating fast, at. the'edge mom or forthe'letterfl-movin'g devices con' lateral arm 26, of the: initial feeder shaft bar '74, carried by and depending'fromai horizontal cross bar 74-, arranged beneath 6'5 of thez front end 'of'the ever'73, so that de'wnward movement of js:fid bar 74, will cause said wedge to ride against [the-edge of said tri I and swingsaid lever to release said dog. he lower end of said bar74, is, ver tically slotted to straddle a i'igid-guide-7 5, at its forward end having a stop to permit suf- -fi ci en t-forward swing of the bar '74, (after said trip lever has been swung)to release ba'r7 4, from the lever and permit the'moveinent of the lever back to its normal position with its rear end in the path of} the dogf A spring 75"," is provided to return the bar 74, back to its hormal ppsition. The bar 74, is mounted to permit t 's back and forth movementand a s ring is provided'to return-the-bar and its bai .to the normal elevated position when the key lever which pressed themdownhas re turned. f 1 I I The bar 74, is pressed. forwardly to permit the return of the trip lever 73, by the elbow lever 76', swinging horizontally on said guide 23f;v "and having one arm -pressing against the rear face of bar 7 4, and Its other arm resting against the rear. cam edge of (heroin b'efore described) so that when said initial feederfstarts on its feeding stroke, said o'am edge will swing the elbow lever to force. the bar '74, forwardly from the trip lever which has been swung to one side by theyvedge of bar. 74, and thereby permit the return'swing'of said trip'lever. I he return stroke of the feeder permits the return of the elbow lever and bar, 74, under the action of spring 75,when the bar; 74, is elevated to its normal position. t

:The rojecting outer end of the radial arm '71, is f drmed with adouble incline or cam shaped edge 77. This, cam shaped edge 77,

has the intermediate raised port on orpoint. 1o5

78, is a swin ingarm pivoted to the stud "78, depending rom' the ngid.frame 23 .The

forward end of :this arm'78, is providedwith a roller, normally bearing against the rear incli'neof the cam edge 77 ,and said arm 78, is

yieldingly held against said cam edge bythe spring79."v V- 4 79', is a stop, which limits the inward swing of the arm, 78. Thisarm78, acts on the radial arm'7 1, as a spring brake to press the I arm 71-, when-inactive, toward the trip lever 73,:and thus hold the endofthe' trip lever against the heel of the dog and thereby maintain the-parts in their'normalflocked positions,"preventing such retrograde movement of the-arm 71, as might permit accidental release of the. dog, When the trip lever 73, is" swung to release the dog and permit its locking engagement with the ratchet wheel, the: Y

, 'ra-diala'rm 71, swings forwardly, as'before'derscribed, and theswinging arm 78, s'wingsin against the stopf '79, holding said armi inposition to again engage the cam edge of the I radial arm 71-, when said armeompletes its stroke and issto'pped by the disengagement the cam edge 77, of the arm 71, by a retract-- ive spring 81. The opposite arm of said lever 80, is connected pivotally by the link 80', with the radial arm 82, rigid with the feed shaft 21, of the initial feeder.

The approximatenormal position ofthe flever 80., with respect to the cam edge 77, is shown in Fig. 5. When said arm 71, starts to swing forwardly on its stroke the rear free end of the lever 80, rides up on the forward side or, ed 'e of the cam 77, and thereby swings the ever 80, in a direction to rock the initial feeder shaft 21, and carry the u per feeding end thereof rearwar'dly to de iver the latter into the feed rolls. When the roller of the lever '80, arrives at the highest oint of the cam edge 7 7 the said feeder has iielivered itsletter to the feed rolls, there- 1 upon the roller of said lever 80, moves dovm the opposite incline, and the initial feeder shaft is rocked to carry its feeding end back to its normal osition on the top-most letter of the pile. "he arm .71, then continues on its rotation leaving the rear end of the lever 80, which is limited'in its inward swing by the rigidstop 81, so that when the arm 71,

com' letes its single revolution, the roller of the ever 80, willbe in a osition shown in Fig. 5, when said arm 71, as completed'its stroke and stopped. 1 v

- 83', is a pinion rigid on the central shaft 40 53, and located immediately above the ec centric 70, which is looseon said shaft.

84, is an oscillating toothed sector pivoted or fulcrumed at 84, to the rigid frame 23.

a This toothed sector 84, has the rigid laterally extending arm 84 to the outer end of which the pitman 85, forming part of or projecting from the eccentric strap of the .eccentric 70, is pivotally joined, The approximately normal positions of the toothed sector and the earn are shown in Fig.

When the dog is thrown into locking engagement with the ratchet wheel and the arm 71, rotates the eccentric, said pitman 85, rocks the crank arm 84 and thereby rocks the toothed sector 84, and rotates the pinion 83, and the shaft 53, hence swinging all of the branch passage feeders around the case of boxes to. receive the letters from the main letter conveyer. As the eccentric cam completes the first half of its stroke the branch letter conveyers reach the limit of their forward movement projecting into the vertical main letter way, and when said cam starts on the second half of its stroke the direction of swing of-the sector 8e,is"reversed and consequently the pinion 83, and the shaft 53, are rotated or rocked in the opposite direction, and the branch letter conveyors start on their return letter feeding stroke. In this connection, it should be observed that the cam and radial arm 71, make but one complete revolution when the dog has been released andthat at the completion of said revolution the trip lever 73, automatically 'disengages the do from the ratchet wheel. The lower feed roll can be rapidly rotated the proper direction by a cord or belt 86 passing over the pulley 24, of the feed roll shaft and under a pulley mounted on a shaft carriedby a bracket 86, depending from the rigid frame 23, said shaft of this bracket -carries a friction' roll 86', running on the top face of the continually rotating drive pulley carrying the-ratchet wheel'and constituting the driver of the apparatus.

The main letter conveyer or lift is actuated byme'chanism located on the upper end of the shaft 53, above the top spider frame 4.

87, is a horizontallydisposed flat faced disk rigid on the shaft 53, to rotate therewith, 90 and arranged just abovethe spider frame 4.

i 88, is a disklo'ose on the shaft 53, and having its flat under face bearing and resting on the upper face of the disk 87. This disk 88, has an upwardly extending sleeve or hub rigid therewith and loosely embracing the ,shaft 53.

89, is the horizontallyrotating sheave or pulley around which the endless flexible connection 40, for raising and lowering thelift ormain letter conveyer is wrapped and to which it may be attached. This pulley 89 loosely encircles the hub or sleeve of the disk 88, and rests loosely on the upper face of said disk or on a sheet of friction material 10 interposed between the flat faces of the disk 88, and the pulley 89. A coiled spring 89, is provided to yicldingly holdthc pulley down on theffriction disk and a suitable set screw can be provided to vary the tension of said spring. The flexible connection 40, passes from the peripheryof the pulley'89, in oppe; site directions above the spider frame 4-, and extends downwardly over idler pulleys 40"; the portion of the flexible connection 40. passing downwardly over the rear idler 40", also passes around an idler 40", at the bottom of the box case and extends horizon tally across the bottom of the box case and upwardly past another idler to the main conveyer. The flexible connection passes upwardly from the main letter conveyor around an idler 40", and then horizontally to the driving pulley 89. It will thus be observed that when the driving pulley 89, rotates in one direction, the main letter conveyer will be elevated through the medium of said connection 40, and when said pulley 89, rotates in the op osite direction the main letter conveyernvil be lowered; The pulley 89, is so erased coupled with its' driving poweras to stbp when the main letter conveyer 1 engages one stops'the disk 88, will continue to revolve independently of the pulley 89. Mechanism is, also provided to start the 'rotatioiiofzthe; pulley- 89, and consequently the movement of the main ietter 'conveyer, after the shaft-- the medium of a pin 8, 7' rigid therewith-and extending into a segmental -slot88f ,1 in thedisk 88-. When the parts are intheir normal positions'the pin 87, is at the rear end of said slot .88. \Hence-when the machine is set.

of the branch passage stops. This is attained by drivin the ey- 89, by frictiom, Tothis end t e pul ey 89, is driven by friction from the disk '88, and, whenthe rnain conveyer-enga'ges onebf's'aid branch passage 53, has started on and moved a short dis-.'

tance in its rotation; To this end, the drive ing disk .88, is driven by the disk 87", through set in motion the shaft 53, revolves and the disk 87, with it, independently of the disk '88,

and the disk 88,- does not begin to revolve until the in 87 has passed throughthe length of t e slot 88., and engaged thelfront end thereof whereupon the disk 88, begins to rotate and the pulley 89-, is driven thereby to elevate the main letter conveyor; 9

It should be noted-thatthe branch sage conveyers begin to move assoon as the operating mechanism of the machineis set to work,'but the main letter conveyer doesnot start on its upward movement until it has received a letter from thefeedrolls and until theparticular branch stop has been When the particular branch'passage conve er has removed the letter-"from the main etter co'nveyer and the shaft 53, starts on its reverse rotation,'the pulley 89, does not begin its reverse rotation until the pin 87', has moved back the length of the segmental slot 88' ,and engaged the rear end of said slot,

thereby allowing the branch conveyersto move out of the main lettenpassage before;

the main letter conveyor starts on its downward movement. The friction clutch, as

7 "before -described,- between the -main letter conveyer driving pulley 89, and the driving means for said pulley, allows said main letter c'onveyer to have a variable stroke or limit of movement so as tostop at any one of "the branchpassages,

' When. any set 'juste'd to cause the depositiof the letter into a particular box and when any branch pas: sage stop has been'adjusted to sto ;the main letter conveyer. at said passage, itis desirable V to lock these-parts in. their set positions until the letter moving devices havedeposited the H I prdvide a 100 for. the liftbars 63, and 48.

' lss letter in the articular box. To this end I This lock in the specific construction illustrated, consists of'an'oscillating ring 90,'ar.-' ranged horizontally on the top spider frame" 4, with-edge. slots 91, opposite each bar 63',-

.elevated as the lugs 63, and 48, will upwardly through said slots 91. When any 'The'locking ring is moved and of box gates has been adand opposite the fourclosely arranged bars 48". Each bar 63, and. each bar 43, is pro 'vided. with an" inwardly projecting lug 63, and. 48', respectively. The arrangement is i such that when said ring 90', is in its normal position and the parts of the machi e are-at rest,-any' one of the bars 63, and 48; an be ove one or two of'said bars have been'elevated with their lateral lugs above the plane of the again bring. the slots '91, below the locking lugs 63', and48'j, and thus permit the bars 63, and 48, and ithevparts connected therewith to return to their normal positions.

timed in its movements by a horizontally disposed swinging ,lever 92, arranged above the spider frame and fulcrumed thereto at an intermediate point 92, with its outer forked end engaging a projection 92", from the locking ring 90, and its inner end provided with a-roller 92 engaging and traveling on the edge of the disk 87,'ri'gid with the central shaft 53. This disk 87, is provided with an edge de ression or recess 93, soarranged that properly when t e shaft 53, is-in its normal inactive v osition the 'roller'92 of the lever 92, willbe located in said depression.

The locking ring 90, is limited in its movementby the pins or screws 96, passing through slotsf95yin said ring into the arms of the top spider-frame 4. y

94,. 1s, a coiled retractive spring secured to thespider frame 4, and to the locking ring90, and constantly tending to hold said locking ring yieldingly in its normal unlocking position. Itwill thus be noted that the s r ng 94, also yieldingly holds the roller of the p ever 92, I 4 to the edge-pf the disk 87, so that whensaidjfg .depression 93, of the disk arrives oppos'ife'f'. the roller ofthe lever 92, said rollcr-ofthe -lever'will drop into the depression and per-- mit the locking ring 90, under the im ulseZB O of its spring 94, to. move and locate the slots 91, below the locking lugs of the bars 63, and 48, 'so that an, barselevated"canreturn to their normal owered positions 'After the key has beenf depressed and the machine thereby set in operation, the disk. 87, moves a distance without rockingthe lever 92, but

when the lever 92., reaches the end of the recess 93, it i's rocked. to rotate the plate or ring to lockthe bars 63, 48,.in the elevated position. The ring 90, is held in this locked position by the roller on the circular space or edge :of the disk 87, until said disk is about completing its single rotation, the end of the lever then drops into therecess 93, and the ring the latter supporting table, so-that the operator in front of the machine canlook down on the topmost letter of the pile and read the address thereon and without turning his" head can easily pick out the particular key and finger bar that corresponds to' the'b'ox towhich said letter belongs.

From the foregoing descri tion it will be readily understood that the nger bars only operate, set or control the main letter conveyer stops, and that "the keys set, control or operate t and alsoc'ontrol the make and break mechanism to set the letter moving devices in operation. I l

When the letter to be operated on belongs in one of the boxes of the top row, it is only necessary to depress a key corresponding to such box because in such event it. is not necessary to set any stop for this main letter gate or stripper belonging to the boxindi- -cated by the key is elevated, the operating mechanism is .operatively connected with the continuously rotating driver, the initial feeder operatedto remove a letter from the common source and pass it into the feed rolls which deliver the same into the conveyeri After the main letter conveyer has received this letterand after the branch passage conveyers have started on their forward movements, said main letter conveyer is elevated to the branch passage of the top row and the letter is then taken therefrom by the branch letter conveyer and deposited in the particular box indicated by the key depressed. I show nineteen. keys 64, corresponding to nineteen boxes of the top row,

but as no box gate or stripper is assigned for the last box B, (the 20th box of the said top row) and asv it is only necessary to set the operating devices in motion to cause letters to be delivered into said last box B, of the top row, I provide a key 74?, for and indicatingsaid box B, of'the topmost row. I ate box gates, switches, or strippers,

for the topmost row of boxes as it is not necessary to set a-stop in order to hold said main letter conveyer opposite the topmost branch passage. The finger bars 50, are parallel with each other and with the row of eys as before described, and said finger bars are also of approximately the same length as the row of keys, and are usually divided into s aces on vertical lines extending between t e keys so that each finger bar will have a space for a name .or title opposite each key. Each finger bar h'astwenty spaces thereon corresponding to and indicating the twenty boxes, respectively, of the row indicated by the entire. finger'bar. of the common ilc belongs in one of the boxes in a row be ow the topmost row of the case, the operator must depress that'fingcr bar which will set the main letter conveyer stop to halt the main letter conveyer oppokey 0 posite the partlcular portion of the finger ar which indicates the particular box. This depression of the key sets the letter stripper or gate of the particular box and also operatively connects the operatingdcdevices for the letter moving 'mechanisms with the continuously rotating driver as will be readily understood from previous'descriptions.

One hand can be employed in the operahand can be used to depress the finger bar, the thumb being placed usually on the particular s aceof said bar corresponding to the and then one of the fingers of thesame hand can be used to press down the opposite key, that is the key opposite the-space; or in the same vertical plane with the space of a finger bar indicating the particular boxto which the letter belongs.

In Fig. 5, the eccentric cam is so arranged with respect tothe swinging toothed sector, that the central shaft changes its direction of rotation twice during each stroke, so that when the branch conveyors move on their return strokes they move beyond the far side partitions of the end boxes B, enabling the letter strippers topull a letter there'- from, and then move forward again a slight distance before coming. to a stop. The branch conveyors thus finally stop over the and avoid any possibility of the lower branch conveyer stopping in the path of the initial feeder or a letter carried thereby. However, I do not limit my invention to such arrangement as the letter moving parts can 'be otherwise arranged, located and operated by other constructions than such as specifically shown herein. I might also state that the suction cups of the initial feeder are desite the particular branch passage, and the operator must also at about the same time or simultaneously, depress-the particular tion, for instance, the thumb of the right box to w ich it is desired to de iver the letter,

B boxes and out of the main letter passage 

